Calling Attention to Communication Disorders: Stuttering and Stammering

Stuttering, also known in the United Kingdom as stammering, is a form of speech disorder in which the flow of speech is disrupted due to involuntary repetitions of words, sounds, syllables or phrases. As an individual stutters, there may be a silent pause in the sentence as the stutterer is unable to properly produce the sound. Stuttering is a developmental disorder, rather than a psychological or physical disorder. While this disorder is caused by an unknown factor, it has been correlated with specific genes. As a child grows, a combination of factors can cause their speech to develop abnormally. Nearly 1 in 40 young children stutter, or 5 percent, while 1 in 135 adults stutter, or 1 percent. Fortunately, there is several effective therapy and treatment options to help children and adults recover. Many successful treatment facilities use trained live operators to handle their calls. Use the following resources to learn about stuttering, the causes, treatment options, and other important information.

Stuttering Information

• Factsheet – Stuttering: General fact sheet about stuttering, including information on the causes, getting help, and the do’s and don’t of stuttering.
• American Speech-Language Hearing Association: The ASHA provides a page about stuttering, the signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and tips for stutterers. 
• National Institutes of Health: The NIDCD offers a detailed summary of stuttering with photographs to show the structures involved in speech production.
• Statistics about Stuttering: Find medical statistics on stuttering in children and adults.
• Frequently Asked Questions about Stuttering: List of questions and answers about stuttering, its causes, treatment, and related information.

Stuttering Causes

• Mayo Clinic – Stuttering: Information about the potential causes of stuttering, including genetics, language development, and signal difficulties.
• Neurological Causes of Stuttering: Article about the neurological causes of stuttering with statistics and research.
• Biology – What Causes Stuttering?: Learn who is affected by stuttering and the changing theories of causes.
• Stuttering Guide for Kids: Children can learn about the causes of stuttering, its early signs, and when to seek help.
• The Science of Stuttering: Article about the science behind stuttering with research information conducted by a professor of speech and language pathology.

Therapy and Treatment for Stuttering

• Neurogenic Stuttering: Article dealing with the treatments for neurogenic stuttering.
• Therapy for Stuttering: Information on finding a therapy program for stuttering and other approaches to traditional speech therapy.
• Treatments Provided by Speech Pathologists: Learn about the types of stuttering treatments available for adolescents and adults.
• Lidcombe Program: Treatment program designed for stuttering children under the age of six.
• Stuttering Therapy: Components of stuttering, including philosophy, behaviors, skills, counseling, and evaluation.
• New Jersey Speech-Hearing Association: Learn about therapy for stuttering and if this disorder can be cured completely.

Stuttering Research

• Research Breaks New Ground: Article about new research done on stuttering with statistics in the United States.
• The Journal of Stuttering Therapy: Free online publication that offers original research and therapy ideas for those who stutter.
• Stuttering Research and Comment: Stuttering research conducted from the researchers of East Carolina University.
• Speech and Hearing Science: Series of research projects to determine the subtypes of stuttering and their causes.
• Research for Improving Stuttering Knowledge: FAQ section and research about stuttering completed by the National Stuttering Association (NSA).
• The Brain’s Role in Stuttering: Article about how the brain plays a major role in stuttering.

Stuttering Support

• Stuttering Support Group: Online forum focused on stuttering discussions in a community setting.
• Friends Who Stutter: National support group devoted to supporting children, teenagers, and their families.
• Stuttering Community: Chat room community for those who want to connect with others.
• Experience Project – I Stutter: Personal experience from real people who stutter, as well as chat, advice, and support from others.
• Stuttering is Cool: Free podcasts, episodes, and tools for stutterers to build confidence and improve their speech.
• The Stuttering Foundation of America: The SFA provides free services, online resources and support to those who stutter and their families.

Other Resources for Stuttering

• Help with Public Speaking and Stuttering: Tips from the Indian Stammering Association on how to prevent stuttering while public speaking.
• The Dreaded Job Interview: Great tips for people who stutter from an employer to get through a job interview.
• Stuttering Media Coverage: Site with resources to stuttering in the media, such as a television episode that premiered on MTV on teens who stutter.
• Stuttering and Society: Learn how stuttering has played a prominent role in popular culture and society at large.
• Famous People Who Stutter: Read stories about famous people who stuttered, including Isaac Newton, James Earl Jones, and John Larkin.
• Stuttering and the Law: Website with a series of articles dealing with the various aspects of law and how it affects those who stutter.

Other Related Fluency Disorders

• Communication Process: Article about communication and its importance in the world of business and personal life.
• Impaired Verbal Communication: Characteristics and assessment of communication in those with impaired verbal skills.
• Cluttering – A Speech Disorder: Information and video sample containing cluttering.
• Developmental Levels of Disfluency: Table that defines the five development levels of disfluency.
• Common Characteristics of Neurogenic Disfluencies: Speech and language characteristics and information on the onset of neurogenic disfluency.
• Communication Disorders: Page that has detailed information on communication disorders, their subtypes, and cultural differences.